Table tennis table having two barriers defining areas mounted thereon

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a table game which may be played on a table similar to that employed in a table-tennis game. The surface of the table has at its ends areas or zones which are marked-off or otherwise defined and which are separated by an area or zone in the center. There are barriers at the boundaries of each end area and the center area. The game is played by opponents, each stationed adjacent an end area, who stroke a ball across the table over the barriers. The ball is a relatively large ball, about three or four inches in diameter and of soft rubber or foam. Each opponent may stroke the ball before it bounces twice on the area on his side. The purpose of the game is to project or stroke the ball into the area on the opposite side without projecting the ball into the center zone or committing a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;fault&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; such as projecting the ball off the table or having it deflected back by a barrier. If the ball is projected into the center zone between the barriers, the player who so projects the ball suffers a penalty which is higher than the penalty for a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;fault.

United States Patent 1 Lersch June 25, 1974 TABLE TENNISTABLE HAVING TWO BARRIERS DEFINING AREAS MOUNTED THEREON [76] Inventor: Alfred E. Lersch, 130 Washington Rd, Forest Hills, Pa. 15221 [22] Filed: Oct. 4, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 294,817

[52] US. Cl. 273/95 R, 273/30 [51] Int. Cl A63b 71/02 [58] Field of Search 273/95 R, 95 H, 30, 102 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 709,144 9/1902 Edgerly 273/85 R 972,568 10/1910 Noonan 273/37 2,163,456 6/1939 Youngberg 273/30 2,206,955 7/1940 Hillson 273/30 3,622,156 11/1971 Pugsley r 273/30 3,711,095 l/1973 Todd 273/102 R Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hymen Diamond 57 ABSTRACT I There is disclosed a table game which may be played on a table similar to that employed in a table-tennis game. The surface of the table has at its ends areas or zones which are marked-off or otherwise defined and which are separated by an area or zone in the center. There are barriers at the boundaries of each end area and the center area. The game is played by opponents, each stationed adjacent an end area, who stroke a ball across the table over the barriers. The ball is a relatively large ball, about three or four inches in diameter and of soft rubber or foam. Each opponent may stroke the ball before it bounces twice on the area on his side. The purpose of the game is to project or stroke the ball into the area on the opposite side without projecting the ball into the center zone or committing a fault such as projecting the ball off the table or having it deflected back by a barrier. 1f the ball is projected into the center zone between the barriers, the player who so projects the ball suffers a penalty which is higher than the penalty for a fault.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing; Figures TABLE TENNIS TABLE HAVING TWO BARRIERS DEFINING AREAS MOUNTED THEREON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to games and has particular relationship to games of the general type of table tennis which are played across a table.

While table tennis is a highly entertaining game both for players and for spectators, it imposes severe demands of aptness and skill and physical exertion on the players. Table tennis does not readily lend itself, as a game for people without the skill and stamina required for table tennis, such as old people or young children or those physically impaired such as people with a heart condition or the like. Such people still require a mild form of exercise.

It is an object of this invention to overcome this disadvantage and to provide a game which can be played with enjoyment by, and shall offer a facility for mild exercise to, people who do not have the skill and the abil ity or stamina to suffer physical exertion demanded by such games as table tennis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention a table game is provided which is played on a table whose surface may be marked off in, or is defined by, end zones. Between the end zones there is an intermediate zone, usually centrally disposed between the end zones. There are barriers on the boundaries between each end zone and the intermediate zone; the barriers alone may serve to define the zones.

The game is played by opposing playersadjacent the end zones, as in table tennis, with a ball whichis substantially larger than the table tennis ball, typically between three and four inches in diameter. Typically the ball is composed of an elastic foam or the like. The players stroke the ball with their hands or a paddle such as a table tennis paddle or a badminton type racket whose handle is short.

According to the rules of the game each player strokes the ball when it reaches his end of the table and during its first bounce. The ball must be returned over the barriers but within the end area or zone on the opposing side. The ball may be bounced off one or both barriers into the opposing end zone (like a net in tennis). On failure to return the ball within the end area on the opposing side; for example, projecting the ball into a barrier and having it bounce back or projecting the ball beyond the opposing end area (out), or failing to stroke the ball after the first bounce, the player suffers a one-point penalty. If the players project the ball into the intermediate area,.the player suffers a higher penalty, which may be two or three points. The number of penalty points may be set in accordance with the width of the intermediate area and may be higher for a narrow area and smaller for a wider area. The end areas may be provided with center lines to determine service sub-areas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a better understanding of this invention, both as to its organization and as to its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmental isometric view showing the barriers incorporated in the embodimentshown in FIG. 1 and, the manner in which they are mounted;

FIG. 3 is a view in section of the ball used in the practice of this invention; 1

FIG. 4 is a fragmental view showing a barrier as shown in FIG. 2 which may readily be disassembled; and

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are views in perspective showing different barriers which may be used in the practice of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 includes a table 11 similar to a table-tennis table. The table has on its surface end areas or zones 13 and 15 and an intermediate area or zone 17. The zone 17 may be defined by stripes along its boundaries or may be colored throughout differently than the zones 13 and 15. Barriers I9 and 21 are provided along the respective boundaries of the intermediate area 17 and the end areas 13 and 15. Typically each end area 13 and 15 may have a width of 5 feet (along the barriers 19, 21) and a length of 43 inches (perpendicular to the barriers). The intermediate section may typically be 22 inches in the direction perpendicular to the barriers and 5 feet along the barriers.

Each barrier 19, 21 includes a rod 31 which extends between posts 33 and 35 secured to clamps 37 and 39 (C clamps). The rods may be set along the boundaries of the area 17 and clamped to the table 11 by the clamps 37 and 39.

The ball 41 shown in FIG. 3 is composed of a soft elastic foam. Preferably the diameter of the ball 41 should be greater than the distance from either of the rods 31 to the top of the table 11; between 3 and 4 inch diameter is typical.

The apparatus for playing the game may be supplied as an assembly constructed for the game or a kit may be provided to modify a table-tennis table or any like table. A typical kit need only include one ormore balls 41 and the barriers and means for mounting the barriers and may also include several short-handled rackets.v

The table may be marked off or defined by the barriers in zones by the user.

FIG. 4 shows the components of a kit and the manner in which they would be assembled. The kit includes four clamps 51, each clamp being of generally C-shape and having a clamping screw 53 in the bottom arm 54 of the C for clamping to the table. The kit also includes an L-shaped wire or rod 55 which is supported by the arms 54 and 56 of the clamp 51. The rod 55 may extend through holes in the arms 56 and be held by a nut 58 which engages the upper arm 56. The kit also includes two tubes 59 which are dimensioned to slip over the ends 60 of opposite rods 55. The rod 59 is sus pended across the table as a barrier by the rod 55. When the barriers are assembled on a table, the clamps 51 are secured to the table in oppositely disposed pairs in positions where the barriers are to extend. The bars 55 are slipped into the clamps 51 and the tubes 59 are suspended from the rods 55. By use of the parts in the kit the barriers 51-59 may readily be mounted on a table-tennis table and the table converted to play the game according to this invention.

In playing the game the respective players are positioned adjacent the zones 13 and 15. The players take turns serving. During service the serving player bounces the ball in his zone and strokes the ball into the opposite zone, say zone 15, (or into a service sub-zone if one is marked out). The other player tries to return the ball over the barriers into the opposite zone, zone 13, avoiding the intermediate penalty zone 17, by striking the ball 41 before it bounces twice. The player who serves then tries to return the ball to the opposite zone 15. The play continues in this way until one of the players fails to stroke the ball during the first bounce before it bounces for the second time, strokes it into a barrier or beyond the opposite zone or strokes it into the penalty zone. The score is kept by points, additional penalty points being assigned for stroking into the penalty zone 17. A game may be set at 15 points or the like or at more than half of a total; for example, for a 15 point total 8-0, 9-1, 10-2, etc.

FIG. 5 shows a barrier of abutting strips 71 and 73 extending from blocks 75 and 77. The strips 71 and 73 and the blocks 75 and 77 may be molded from plastic foam. A string 79 is provided for securing the barrier to a table. FIG. 6 shows a barrier in the form of a strip 81 of generally parabolic or semi-circular section molded from plastic. The barrier may be secured by a string 83 to the table. FIG. 7 shows a barrier formed of a plastic or paper tube 91 secured to the table by a a string 93. Barriers comprising pairs of wires 101 extending from end brackets 103 as shown in FIG. 8 may also be provided. The brackets may be held by spring clips 105 having a tip which penetrates into a hole in each bracket.

While preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed herein, many modifications thereof are feasible. This invention is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the spirit of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A table game including a generally horizontal table having first and second zones at the opposite ends of the surface thereof and an intermediate zone between said first and second zones, barriers extending generally vertically from said table and extending transversely thereacross at the respective boundaries of said first zone and said intermediate zone and said second zone and said intermediate zone, the said table game also including a ball which is stroked back and forth desirably over said barriers by players disposed adjacent the first and second zones, each player returning the ball after it passes the barrier nearest his zone, and endeavoring to move the ball over both barriers into the opposite zone, each said barrier preventing the stroking of said ball through the area between the surface of said table and the bottom of said last-named barrier.

2. The game of claim 1 wherein the barriers are rods extending across the table, the bottom of each said rod being spaced from the surface of the table on which the zones are provided a distance less than the diameter of the ball, the said rods including means at the ends thereof for removably securing said rods to the table.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ball is composed of plastic foam and has a diameter of about 3 to 4 inches.

4. The table game of claim 1 wherein the spacing between the barriers measured along the length of the table is substantially greater than the diameter of the ball but substantially less than the length of each zone measured along the length of the table.

5. A game table for a game including a ball of substantially larger diameter than a table-tennis ball to be stroked back and forth across the table, said table including a generally horizontal surface, means, having visually defined at opposite ends thereof, spaced first and second playing end zones and also having, visually defined thereon, in the space between said end zones an intermediate zone, a first barrier extending generally vertically above the junction of said first zone and said intermediate zone and transversely across the table and a second barrier extending generally vertically above the junction of said second zone and said intermediate zone and transversely across the table, each said barrier being unpenetrable by a said ball stroked to impinge between the bottom of said last-named barrier and said horizontal surface, said intermediate zone being of substantially greater width in the general direction in which said ball is stroked than the diameter of said ball and being of substantially smaller width in said direction than the width of said end zones. 

1. A table game including a generally horizontal table having first and second zones at the opposite ends of the surface thereof and an intermediate zone between said first and second zones, barriers extending generally vertically from said table and extending transversely thereacross at the respective boundaries of said first zone and said intermediate zone and said second zone and said intermediate zone, the said table game also including a ball which is stroked back and forth desirably over said barriers by players disposed adjacent the first and second zones, each player returning the ball after it passes the barrier nearest his zone, and endeavoring to move the ball over both barriers into the opposite zone, each said barrier preventing the stroking of said ball through the area between the surface of said table and the bottom of said last-named barrier.
 2. The game of claim 1 wherein the barriers are rods extending across the table, the bottom of each said rod being spaced from the surface of the table on which the zones are provided a distance less than the diameter of the ball, the said rods including means at the ends thereof for removably securing said rods to the table.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ball is composed of plastic foam and has a diameter of about 3 to 4 inches.
 4. The table game of claim 1 wherein the spacing between the barriers measured along the length of the table is substantially greater than the diameter of the ball but substantially less than the length of each zone measured along the length of the table.
 5. A game table for a game including a ball of substantially larger diameter than a table-tennis ball to be stroked back and forth across the table, said table including a generally horizontal surface, means, having visually defined at opposite ends thereof, spaced first and second playing end zones and also having, visually defined thereon, in the space between said end zones an intermediate zone, a first barrier extending generally vertically above the junction of said first zone and said intermediate zone and transversely across the table and a second barrier extending generally vertically above the junction of said second zone and said intermediate zone and transversely across the table, each said barrier being unpenetrable by a said ball stroked to impinge between the bottom of said last-named barrier and said horizontal surface, said intermediate zone being of substantially greater width in the general direction in which said ball is stroked than the diameter of said ball and being of substantially smaller width in said direction than the width of said end zones. 